Even as Gary Bettman pumps Sidney Crosby’s tires, there are weeks to go and miles to travel before the parade.

The Penguins are good, all right, very good, but right at the very moment the East seemed theirs for the taking and a first-round meat-grinder against the Flyers would thus have become the Rangers’ burden, Pittsburgh lost two straight to the Islanders.

So imposing, yes, but unbeatable no, and certainly not with the very strong defending champion Bruins awaiting with second-round home ice if form generally holds in the NHL’s inequitable playoff format — unless the commissioner can push through a rule change via Amendment 87 over the fortnight.

An upset or two is likely in an early round, though the definition of such is unclear in this unfair system in which the team with the sixth-most points in each conference has home ice in the first round and would keep it in the second if able to advance.

It is true that a team has to be in it to win it, but this notion that once in it any team can win it is historical malarkey. Fact is, only one team that started the first round on the road since the NHL went to a conference-based playoff format in 1994 has won the Stanley Cup — the 1995 Devils team seeded fifth following a 48-game lockout-truncated season.

The Rangers have been ready for the playoffs since December. They have shined in the spotlight all season. Their goaltender is hockey royalty on a blue collar team that six weeks from now will service their own vehicles for the ride up the Canyon of Heroes, with those from NHL headquarters on Sixth Avenue invited to take mass transit to watch the ceremonies from behind the police barriers.

CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS

Larry Brooks’ prediction: (1) Rangers over (8) Senators in 6

Mark Everson’s prediction: (1) Rangers over (8) Senators in 5

Brooks analysis: This talented, quick opponent will provide the strong test the Black-and-Blueshirts require as a springboard to bigger and better things. The East top seed’s playoff-made approach and superior goaltending will prevail despite the threat Jason Spezza poses on each shift.

Larry Brooks’ prediction: (2) Bruins over (7) Capitals in 5

Mark Everson’s prediction: (2) Bruins over (7) Capitals in 6

Brooks analysis: The Zdeno Chara-Alexander Ovechkin matchup does not favor Washington any more than the Tim Thomas -goaltender by committee match does unless, that is, the Caps play their home games at the White House. Tyler Seguin is the Cup break-out star waiting to happen for the defending champions, who should breeze given their talent and edge in commitment.

Larry Brooks’ prediction: (6) Devils over (3) Panthers in 6

Mark Everson’s prediction: (6) Devils over (3) Panthers in 5

Brooks analysis: Martin Brodeur enters this tournament off a Jeterian second-half, recapturing brilliance even when most believed his game had faded for good. Zach Parise (never past the second round) and Ilya Kovalchuk (career 1-8 in the playoffs), the best players in the series, hunger for success.

Larry Brooks’ prediction: (4) Penguins over (5) Flyers in 7

Mark Everson’s prediction: (4) Penguins over (5) Flyers in 6

Brooks analysis: The only thing the Flyers have to fear in this gauntlet of a series is their own goaltending, but the gap between Marc-Andre Fleury and Ilya Bryzgalov is about as wide as the current 36-year gap between Cups for “Mr. Snider.” Penguins will prevail on sheer talent, but Flyers will extract their pounds of flesh.

Larry Brooks’ prediction: (1) Canucks over (8) Kings in 5

Mark Everson’s prediction: (1) Canucks over (8) Kings in 5

Brooks analysis: Health of Daniel Sedin may become a factor as the tournament progresses and so might the likely Roberto Luongo/Cory Schneider debate, but neither should be first-round impediment as tested Vancouver attempts to become first repeat Presidents’ Trophy winner to win the Cup year after losing in the Final.

Larry Brooks’ prediction: (7) Sharks over (2) Blues in 7

Mark Everson’s prediction: (7) Sharks over (2) Blues in 6

Brooks analysis: Counterintuitive to pretty much everything that took place on the ice during the 82-game preliminary, but if San Jose goaltending can be responsible against club ranked 14th out of 16 playoff participants in goals-scored, the old gang should pull the upset before inevitable defeat and summer reconstruction.

Larry Brooks’ prediction: (3) Coyotes over (6) Blackhawks in 6

Mark Everson’s prediction: (6) Blackhawks over (3) Coyotes in 6

Brooks analysis: The uncertainty regarding Jonathan Toews’ long-term status equals the uncertainty of Chicago’s Corey Crawford-Ray Emery tandem in net that recorded the West’s poorest GAA among playoff qualifiers while Mike Smith goes into the series riding a wave.

Larry Brooks’ prediction: (4) Predators over (5) Red Wings in 6

Mark Everson’s prediction: (5) Red Wings over (4) Predators in 6

Brooks analysis: Built for the playoffs, Nashville is not only solid everywhere but unfazed by the aura of the Red Wings, who still have brilliance at the top in Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Nicklas Lidstrom but no longer have the depth required of champions.